Method for simultaneously preparing pharmacy vial label and drug-specific warning labels

This application is a continuation of appln. Ser. No. 09/224,329 filed Dec. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,231 which is a continuation of appln. Ser. No. 08/867,965 filed Jun. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,395, which is a continuation of appln. Ser. No. 08/504,765 filed Jul. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,906, which is a continuation-in-part of appln. Ser. No. 08/121,415 filed Sep. 16, 1993, abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to paper blanks for use with a printer in a computer system, and in particular relates to a compound paper blank to be printed on by a computer printer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Labels having pressure sensitive adhesive have been applied to drug containers for a long time by the pharmaceutical industry to identify the customer, the doctor, the drug being dispensed, and the frequency of the dosage. These labels usually can be purchased in bundles that can be fed into a computer driven printer. The information to be printed on one of the labels is either typed into the computer using a conventional pharmacy computer program or is retrieved from a stored record having been previously typed into the computer memory using the pharmacy computer program. Such a computer program also has automatically printed out receipts for the customer and records for the pharmacy.

The pharmaceutical industry has also been applying oblong or rectangular warning labels to the drug containers for some time. These warning labels warn the customer about certain events or provide instructions involving the prescribed drug. For example, a warning label may carry the message:

MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS; ALCOHOL MAY INTENSIFY THIS EFFECT. USE CARE WHEN OPERATING A CAR OR DANGEROUS MACHINERY.

The warning labels have been supplied to the pharmaceutical industry for some time in rolls of the same message.

Pharmacies have also been supplying customers with an instruction sheet containing information about the drugs they are purchasing. One type of such labels carry the brand name PAL (Patient Advisory Leaflet).

The prior art also contains references which teach the use of a computer system to generate prescription labels printed by a computer driven printer. Such references include the following U.S. patents, which are incorporated herein by reference: Baum U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,604; Olodort et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,174; and McKee U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,657. The prior art also contains references which disclose a manual form having an adhesive label portion used in combination for record keeping and generating a label to be applied to a drug container. Examples of U.S. patents, which are incorporated herein by reference, disclosing such forms are the Lockhart patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,277,089 and 4,159,129; and the Biava et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,712.

However, there is no known prior art reference which provides a blank for a computer printer that contains portions for both a removable prescription drug label and a removable warning label with portions for other printed information. Such a system would reduce package costs, provide greater flexibility, and be compatible with existing computer software used by pharmacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly the present invention is designed to provide a multi-part blank which can be fed in a computer driven printer and when printed, will contain all of the parts needed for a complete set. Such a set contains a peelable vial label having a pressure sensitive adhesive connected to removable strips of computer selected warning labels also having a pressure sensitive adhesive. The set also contains portions for printed information needed by both the pharmacy and the customer.

The present invention provides a printer blank which can cut expenses, reduce errors, and cut time in preparing records and drug containers for customers. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a single sheet of multisectional paper blank can be fed into a laser printer and on that one sheet there will be printed a drug advisory leaflet; no, one or more than one warning labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on its back side for easy application to a drug container, and a drug container label containing drug, customer, and pharmacy information. This blank in one pass through the laser printer contains all of the necessary records and parts for the entire drug transaction.

According to one embodiment, the present invention comprises a blank for use with a printer for printing information and labels for drug containers. The blank comprises a sheet of a material having a front side that can be printed on with the printer, a back side, a top and bottom edge which together define a generally horizontal direction, and two side edges which together define a generally vertical direction. The sheet includes at least a first portion and a second portion divided by a first, generally vertically extending tear line or tear line that extends from the top edge to the bottom edge. In the first portion the printer prints text about the particular drug being prescribed, and in the second portion, which includes a label laminate divided into a first section and a second section by a generally horizontal, second tear line. The second section is further divided into a plurality of horizontal strips by at least two generally horizontal tear lines which extend from the first tear line to one of the side edges of the blank. The laminate is comprised of a backing sheet, a removable label sheet having a front side that can be printed on with the printer and a back side, and a pressure-type adhesive on the back side of said label sheet.

Other advantages, features, and details of the present invention will be set forth in or apparent from the detailed description thereof contained hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an electronic block diagram of a prototype computer system used to demonstrate the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank in accordance with the present invention before it has been printed on;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, not-to-scale, cross-sectional view taken along lines <b>3</b>—<b>3</b> of FIG. 2 in which certain layers have been shown thicker in order to depict the details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank that has indicia printed on it by a computer driven laser printer;

FIGS. 5, <b>6</b> and <b>8</b> are plan views of other blanks in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, not-to-scale, cross-sectional view taken along lines <b>7</b>—<b>7</b> of FIG. 6 in which certain layers have been shown thicker in order to depict the details of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings in which like numerals are used to represent like elements throughout the several views, and in particular with reference to FIG. 1, a computer system <b>10</b> is depicted for generating a completed form such as shown in FIG. <b>4</b>. Computer system <b>10</b> is comprised of a conventional host computer <b>12</b> having a conventional keyboard <b>14</b> for the manual input of information, a conventional computer monitor <b>16</b> for the output of information and a conventional external memory <b>18</b>, which can be a conventional hard disk system. Host computer <b>12</b> has an input/output port <b>20</b> and can be an IBM compatible computer type using an INTEL brand 80486 DX microprocessor with 8 Mega-bytes of internal memory. Memory <b>18</b> holds a number of data bases, such as a customer data base containing customer information and a store data base containing the pharmacy's inventory control information. Memory <b>18</b> also holds a conventional pharmaceutical computer program. The program is used by pharmacies to generate the customer data base and store data base, and to extract information contained in these data bases and combine it with information entered from keyboard <b>14</b> by a pharmacist to produce an output to drive a printer to print a conventional drug label.

Connected to host computer through input/output port <b>20</b> is a supplemental computer <b>22</b>. Supplemental computer <b>22</b> can be identical in configuration to host computer <b>12</b>. Connected to supplemental computer <b>22</b> is a conventional external memory <b>24</b> and a conventional laser printer <b>26</b>, such as a Hewlett-Packard model Series 2 laser printer. Stored in memory <b>24</b> are an NDC (National Drug Code) data base containing a standardized drug code list, a data base containing information for the customer about each prescribed drug, such as the commercially available C-PAL® data base, and a data base of warning labels, including unique logos and icons (see, for example, FIG. <b>4</b>). Also contained in memory <b>24</b> is a program which permits supplemental computer to intercept the printer information from host computer <b>12</b>, to reformat the information, to enter the C-PAL® and warning label data bases to get the related information, and to regenerate the printer information with the incorporated C-PAL® and warning label information.

Computer system <b>10</b> is depicted in FIG. 1 as having two computers and it is so configured because it has been designed to complement, upgrade and modify an existing pharmacy computer system that has been using commercially available software. However, an alternative embodiment of the invention (not depicted) is implemented on, or includes, a single computer system in which supplemental computer <b>22</b> is combined with host computer <b>12</b>, supplemental computer memory <b>24</b> is combined with host computer memory <b>18</b>, and a single computer program is used both for the conventional pharmacy inventory control, accounting and report generating tasks and for the printing of a completed form, such as depicted in FIG. <b>4</b>.

A blank or form <b>50</b> in accordance with the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Blank <b>50</b> is preferably made from a flexible, conventional stock material. Blank <b>50</b> has a front side <b>52</b> which can receive and retain “ink” or print from printer <b>26</b> and a back side <b>54</b> (FIG. <b>3</b>). As shown in FIG. 2, blank <b>50</b> has a top edge <b>56</b> and a bottom edge <b>58</b> parallel thereto which are arbitrarily used to define the-horizontal direction in blank <b>50</b>. Blank <b>50</b> also has a left side <b>60</b> and a right side <b>62</b> parallel thereto which are arbitrarily used to define the vertical direction in blank <b>50</b>. In a presently preferred embodiment, blank <b>50</b> is made of paper and is essentially a square with each side having a length of 8.5 inches (21.59 cm). Alternatively, blank <b>50</b> can be made from a plastic or other thin sheet material which can be printed on.

Blank <b>50</b> is comprised of a first sheet <b>64</b> and a second sheet <b>66</b> which have respective overlapping strips <b>68</b> and <b>70</b> that are adhered to one another with a conventional heat set adhesive <b>72</b>, as shown in FIG. <b>3</b>.

Strip <b>68</b> is defined not only by its overlapping strip <b>70</b>, but also by a vertically extending tear line <b>74</b> that extends from top edge <b>56</b> to bottom edge <b>58</b>. Tear line <b>74</b> can be a score line, but preferably is a perforation line with the perforations extending completely through first sheet <b>64</b>. Thus, as seen on front side <b>52</b> of blank <b>50</b>, it can also be said that tear line <b>74</b> divides blank <b>50</b> into a first portion <b>76</b>, which is coextensive with first sheet <b>64</b> less strip <b>68</b>, and a second portion <b>78</b> which is coextensive with second sheet <b>66</b> including strip <b>70</b>.

As depicted in FIG. 3, second sheet <b>66</b> is comprised of a laminate and has a backing <b>80</b> and a paper top layer <b>82</b>. Backing <b>80</b> in the presently preferred embodiment is a paper product having an embedded plastic top portion or coated with a plastic film (not shown). Attached to the underside of top layer <b>82</b> is a conventional pressure adhesive <b>84</b>. By appropriately selecting top layer <b>82</b>, adhesive <b>84</b> and backing <b>80</b>, adhesive <b>84</b> removably adheres top layer <b>82</b> to backing <b>80</b>, and after top layer <b>82</b> is removed from said backing sheet is able to adhere more permanently top layer <b>82</b> to a container (not shown), which can be a conventional plastic bottle in which drugs are dispensed.

As seen in FIG. 2, when viewed together with FIG. 4, first portion <b>76</b> is much larger in the horizontal direction than second portion <b>78</b>. In a presently preferred embodiment, first sheet has a width of 6⅝th inches (16.83 cm) and first portion <b>76</b> has a width of 6⅜ inches (16.19 cm). First portion <b>76</b> is divided into three sections, <b>86</b>, <b>88</b> and <b>90</b> by a vertical tear line <b>92</b> and by a short horizontal tear line <b>94</b>. Tear line <b>92</b> is a perpendicular bisector of tear line <b>92</b>, which is parallel to tear line <b>74</b> and similarly extends from top edge <b>56</b> to bottom edge <b>58</b>. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tear lines <b>92</b> and <b>94</b> are perforation lines with the perforation extending completely through first sheet <b>64</b>. As shown in FIG. 4, section <b>86</b> is the largest section and is used to contain the text of a Patient Advisory Leaflet. Sections <b>88</b> and <b>90</b> are obviously of equal size and they are each used to contain the text of a customer receipt which can be used for financial records.

Second portion <b>78</b> is divided into a plurality of vertically arranged portions by a plurality of horizontal tear lines. In the present embodiment there are seven such portions denoted <b>96</b>, <b>98</b>, <b>100</b>, <b>102</b>, <b>104</b>, <b>106</b> and <b>108</b> created by six tear lines <b>110</b>, <b>112</b>, <b>114</b>, <b>116</b>, <b>118</b>, and <b>120</b>. In a preferred embodiment, tear lines <b>110</b>, <b>112</b>, <b>114</b>, <b>116</b> and <b>120</b> extend only through top layer <b>82</b> and attached layer of adhesive <b>84</b> and are perforation lines. On the other hand, tear line <b>118</b> in a preferred embodiment is a perforation line with the perforations extending completely through second sheet <b>66</b>. Portion <b>96</b> is a wrap-around label to be applied to a drug container. Portions <b>98</b>, <b>100</b>, <b>102</b> and <b>104</b> are four blanks, none, some or all of which may be used to contain design and word indicia representing warning labels to be applied to a drug container. Portion <b>106</b> is unused filler.

Portion <b>108</b> is vertically bisected by a vertical tear line <b>122</b> to create vertically extending parts <b>124</b> and <b>126</b>. In a preferred embodiment, tear line <b>122</b> is a perforation line with the perforations extending completely through second sheet <b>66</b>. Part <b>124</b> is used to obtain a third party signature and also to contain information about the particular prescription. Part <b>126</b> can be used as an adhesive pharmacy record label to be applied to an appropriate ledger page (not shown).

The advantages to having tear lines <b>74</b>, <b>92</b>, <b>94</b>, <b>118</b> and <b>122</b> extend completely through their respective sheets <b>64</b> and <b>66</b> is that blank <b>50</b> can be easily and quickly divided into five portions, each with an entirely different purpose. Portions <b>86</b> (the patient advisory leaflet), <b>88</b> and <b>90</b> are adhesive free and are given to the customer. Combined portions <b>96</b>, <b>98</b>, <b>100</b>, <b>102</b><b>104</b> contain indicia having the information necessary for the container of the drug being dispensed, and the adhesive top layer <b>82</b> can be removed as one piece from backing <b>80</b>, the unused warning label portions removed, and the remaining piece applied to the drug container. Finally, adhesive parts <b>124</b> and <b>126</b> can be selectively removed from their piece of backing <b>80</b> and applied to the appropriate pharmacy ledger.

The number of warning label blanks provided is somewhat arbitrary, except that based upon prior experience most druggist do not select more than four such labels for any particular drug. obviously, the number of blanks could be larger or smaller if necessary, and the unused blanks would be separated and discarded before the drug label, portion <b>98</b>, and used warning labels, portions <b>98</b>, <b>100</b>, <b>102</b> and <b>104</b> are applied.

In an alternative embodiment, portion <b>108</b> could be divided into three vertically extending parts by two tear lines so that the signature section could be separated from the pharmacy record label.

The further embodiments depicted in FIGS. 5-8 may be used alone as illustrated or as alternative portions of the particular embodiment described above.

The FIG. 5 embodiment comprises a main label <b>200</b> and auxiliary labels <b>210</b> to <b>213</b>. Auxiliary labels <b>210</b> to <b>213</b>, which are horizontally disposed with respect to main label <b>200</b>, are horizontally separated from each other and from other portions of the blank by way of knife or die cuts <b>220</b> to <b>224</b> and vertically from other portions of the blank by way of knife or die cuts <b>230</b> to <b>233</b>, which knife or die cuts extend through the adhesive layer but not through the backing layer. At least one of lines <b>240</b> to <b>243</b> is a perforation line extending to but not through the backing sheet, such that at least one of auxiliary labels <b>210</b> to <b>213</b> is separated from the backing sheet simultaneously with the removal of main label <b>200</b> from the backing sheet. Any of lines <b>240</b> to <b>243</b> which are not perforation lines, if any, are knife or die cuts extending to the backing sheet, such that the respective auxiliary labels are completely separated from each other as well as from any other portions of the blank.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 differs from the FIG. 5 embodiment in that auxiliary labels <b>310</b> to <b>313</b> are vertically rather than horizontally disposed with respect to the main label <b>300</b>. Thus each of lines <b>320</b> to <b>328</b> is a knife or die cut extending through adhesive <b>84</b> to but not through backing sheet <b>80</b>, at least line <b>330</b> of lines <b>330</b> to <b>333</b> is a perforation line extending to but not through back sheet <b>80</b>, and any of lines <b>331</b> to <b>333</b> which are not perforation lines, if any, are knife or die cuts extending to but not through the backing sheet, such that any respective auxiliary label is completely separated, and therefore separately removable, from any other portion of the blank. With such a construction, at least one but optionally up to all of the auxiliary labels may be removed from the backing sheet simultaneously with the main label and any unused but removed auxiliary labels, if any, may be subsequently and easily separated from the main and/or used auxiliary label(s). In a preferred embodiment of the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiment, lines <b>330</b> and <b>331</b> are perforated lines and lines <b>332</b> and <b>333</b> are die cuts, such that two auxiliary labels <b>310</b> and <b>311</b> are simultaneously removed from back sheet <b>80</b> with main label <b>302</b>.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 illustrates a blank <b>400</b> of which the blank of the FIG. 6 embodiment is one component <b>410</b>. Additional components <b>415</b> and <b>420</b> of the FIG. 8 embodiment are additional separately removable adhesive labels.

As described in detail above, in carrying out a method of labeling utilizing blank forms according to the invention, the user causes the desired information to be printed on the main label and, optionally, on one or more auxiliary labels, simultaneously removes the printed main label and at least one auxiliary label from the backing sheet, separates any simultaneously removed but unused auxiliary label(s), and simultaneously applies the main label and any remaining, i.e., used, auxiliary label(s) to another surface. When used in a pharmacy application as a labeling system for prescription drugs, any used auxiliary labels comprise warning labels to the user of the drug dispensed in the container to which the labels are affixed.

Thus, the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings with respect to presently preferred embodiments. As such, the present invention permits, for example, the existing computer system of a pharmacy to execute a label set as usual while the software of the present invention adds information by which laser printer <b>26</b> will print any warning labels and an advisory leaflet corresponding to the drug being dispensed. The one piece wrap-around pressure sensitive label for the drug container optionally combines the main drug container label with one or more selected warning labels.

Other modifications and enhancements of the present invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art.